Job Fair draws more than 1,500 - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Job Fair draws more than 1,500

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By Karen Cohilas - bio | email

December 19, 2008

ALBANY, GA (WALB) - Throngs of people showed up to apply for jobs at a career fair in Albany today. A Marine Base contractor is hiring 125 people immediately, and the census bureau is taking applications, too . More than one thousand people showed up today to apply for those jobs.

When Cortez Fields showed up to the Goodwill Career Center just before 10 Friday morning, he thought he was going to beat the crowd. "Were you shocked by the crowd?" "Yeah. I really was, I thought I was going to beat the crowd, but, I see I didn't."

By the time he showed up, more than a thousand people had already secured their spots in line, bringing Fields back to his job search reality. "It's tough out there."

Edward Patten knew that a lot of people, like himself, would apply for the jobs offered Friday, so he wanted to make sure he was first in line. "I came out here yesterday evening at 9:30." Why? "Because I anticipated there would be a large turnout and I wanted to be one of the first ones in the line."

He waited in his vehicle until 4:18 Friday morning, when another job seeker arrived. And as the morning grew longer, so did the line.

Diane Barron said, "I thought I was going to be number 10 or something. I got weak, but I still got on in line and when I looked back I said, 'I'm glad I stayed'."

Most of the people we spoke with, had been laid off from their jobs, and couldn't find work anywhere else. "I go out everyday looking for work. It's just not there, it's just not there." But maybe today, the job she needs is there.

The job fair was supposed to continue Saturday; but because of the overwhelming response, it's been cancelled.

 AECOM Government Services will hire 125 people to start work December 27th. They need mechanics, electronic technicians, sheet metal workers, welders, motor vehicle body mechanics, and stock clerks. The jobs will pay 12 to 23 dollars an hour. There are also openings with the Census bureau and Work Force, another contractor for the base.

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